Automatic thread joiner and continuous spinning machines



3,445,997 AUTOMATIC THREAD JOINER AND CONTINUOUS SPINNING MA 26. 1968 May 27, 1969 R. ESCURSELL PRAT CHINES Filed Feb.

mwsmon ROBERTO ESCURSELL PRAT ATTORNEYS CHINES i May 2'7, 1 969 R. ESCURSELL PRAT I AUTOMATIC THREAD JOINER AND CONTINUOUS SPINNING MA Sheet Filed Feb. 26, 1968 INVENTOR ROBERTO ESCURSELL PRAT ATTORNEYS M y 1969 R. ESCURSELL PRAT I 3,445,997

AUTOMATIC THREAD JOINER AND CONTINUOUS SPINNING MACHINES Filed Feb. 26, 1968 Shet 3 0&4

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AUTOMATIC THREAD JOINER AND CONTINUOUS SPINNING MACHINES Filed Feb. 26, 1968 Sheet 4 of4 INVENTOR ROBERTO ESCURSELL PRAT ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,445,997 AUTOMATIC THREAD JOINER AND CONTINUOUS SPINNING MACHINES Roberto Escursell Prat, 105 Ronda General Mitre, Barcelona, Spain Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 469,799, July 6, 1965. This application Feb. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 708,066

Int. Cl. D0lh 13/26 US. CI. 57-34 20 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Improvements in an automatic thread joiner for a ring Spinning machine, the thread joiner comprising a carriage movable back and forth along the spindle rail and carrying certain operating components, including extractor means for upwardly extending a broken thread extracted from a bobbin, which reciprocate vertically with the ring rail. The improvements provide a servo system and other mechanisms for controlling movement of the vertically reciprocating components, a slotted suction tube or a movable thread conveyor in association with the thread extractor, a safety device for, at desired times, rendering the joiner inoperative, and a simplified overall structure.

Cross-reference to related application This application is a continuationin-part of application Ser. No. 469,799, filed July 6, 1965, now abandoned.

Background of the invention This invention relates to certain improvements in an automatic thread joiner of the type disclosed in Re. 26,230 (of Patent No. 3,128,590). According to said patent, a carriage is moved by an electric motor and runs on wheels and rails, the rails being fitted to and extending longitudinally of the continuous spinning machine. The carriage supports all the required means and forms the base of the system, stopping whenever an ends-down detector which it carries discovers a broken yarn. Above and at a desired fixed distance from the carriage is a stationary platform, and in the center is a vertically movable horizontal platform which follows the vertical move ments of the ring rail.

Summary of invention The present improvements in the device of Re. 26,230 include control of the vertical movements of the mov ing platform by an electric detector which, during the reciprocating movement of the ring rail, supplies a variable-speed servo motor with all the accessory information corresponding to the oscillation and to the gradual ascent of the ring rail. This improvement makes the device more flexible for dealing with a wide variety of materials, qualities and counts of textile products at various output speeds.

The detector-controlled servo motor can raise and/or lower the horizontal platform through various mechanical elements; for instance, cables, chains, a toothed rack, or a rod and crank. The example to be described hereinafter, however, is based on the combination of a worm screw and nut in which the servo motor drives a vertical worm extending through a nutlike element in the moving platform; since the same cannot rotate, any rotation of the worm to either hand must raise or lower the platform and the devices disposed thereon.

The suction extractor is arranged to eliminate any necessity for raising of the platform or plate bearing the suction mouthpiece from the horizontal plane at the layers of the bobbin from which such mouthpiece has sucked a broken thread end, to the height of the drafing rolls, one of the desired goals being to reduce abrasion of the sucked-in thread by the inside of the mouthpiece when the thread slides therein in opposition to the tension produced by the suction air stream. In one subsequently disclosed embodiment obviating the disadvantage just described, which may cause a further thread breakage, the suction tube connected to the suction device comprises a short horizontal portion immediately following the mouthpiece, the horizontal portion being followed by a vertical rising portion extending above the height of the drafting rolls of the spinning machine. The vertical portion of the tube is followed by other short, horizontal portions, one of which extends angularly relative to the first-mentioned short portions. All this part of the suction tube is provided along its length with a narrow slot for the lateral emergence of the sucked-in thread. The thread is therefore tensioned between the bobbin and a region adjacent the drafting cylinders with minimum movement of the moving platform whose movements are controlled by the detector hereinbefore referred to.

Where the thread being dealt with is very fine or not very strong, it can alternatively be raised to the region adjacent drafting roll level by means of thread grippers which move vertically to such region from the suction mouthpiece disposed adjacent the bobbin. This step helps to reduce damage to very fine and weak threads.

To avoid possible engagement of the spindle brake and reverse drive with the ring rail, safety means are provided for temporarily delaying operation of the device, once a broken thread has been located, in cases where the vertical reciprocation 0f the ring rail obstructs the passage of the rotating disc adapted to stop and reverse the spindle, the device starting immediately after the ring rail has cleared the zone concerned.

Brief description of drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention and shows the novel features of the vertical suction tube with the slot and the worm and servo motor mechanism for moving the moving platform;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the suction tube mouthpiece and shows the relative position of the threadjoining lever;

FIGS. 38 are diagrammatic side elevations showing various phases during the cycle of the apparatus using the novel suction tube system;

FIG. 9 is a front elevation of the suction tube and thread stressed thereby;

FIG. 10 is a view in side elevation of an alternative system for raising the thread by grippers upwards from the suction mouthpiece;

FIG. 11 is a front view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the worm, servo motor and control switch mechanism for moving the platform;

FIG. 13 is a diagram of the control circuit for the system shown in FIG. 12;

FIGS. 14a and b are views diagrammatically showing the manner in which the mouth of the suction tube is carried to enter the ring while the ring rail is ascending;

PIGS. 15a and b are views similar to FIGS. 14a and b but showing the operation while the ring rail is descend- 1 FIG. 16 is an elevational view of the detector and its switch which enables the device to stop operating when the front of the ring rail blocks the passage of the rotatable disc adapted to stop the spindle and to rotate it in the opposite direction, and which starts the device when the ring rail has cleared the passage zone, and

FIG. 17 is an elevational view, partially in section, of the mechanism for actuating the member which threads up the thread guide.

Detailed description of invention The apparatus according to the present invention is particularly adapted for use with continuous spinning machines of the type including a spindle rail 2, FIGS. 1 and 16, supporting a plurality of aligned driven spindles 37 that support bobbins to each of which a thread 109, FIG. 3, is fed from drafting rolls 114, 115 through a thread guide 110 and a traveller 55 on a ring 50 surrounding the respective spindle to produce a thread package. All of the rings 50 are carried by a ring rail 78 which reciprocates axially of the spindles 37 to guide the thread 109 along the bobbins 109 as it is wound thereon by rotation of the spindles 37. The spindle rail 2 car-ries along the front thereof a pair of horizontally disposed, vertically spaced rails 3 and 4, FIGS. 1 and 16, for supporting a mobile thread joining mechanism.

The present invention resides in improvements in the thread joining mechanism disclosed in Re. 26,230 of Patent No. 3,128,590, particularly the embodiment shown in FIG. 28 thereof, and for convenience of comparison, the corresponding parts of the present mechanism are identified by the same reference characters as applied in said patent. Thus, referring to FIGS. 1 and 16, the mechanism comprises a carriage 5 having two sets of wheels 6 and 7 respectively engaging the rails 3 and 4 to support the carriage 5, at least one of the wheels being driven by a suitable motor drive 131 for moving the carriage along the spindle rail 2.

Detector means 121 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is movably mounted on the carriage for engaging the threads 109, preferably between the thread guide 110 and the drafting rolls 114, 115, and upon failing to engage a thread due to a break, causes the carriage to stop at the respective spindle and initiates the thread joining cycle. A friction wheel 35, FIGS. 3-8 and 16, driven by a gear 42 is carried by an arm 33 for engaging the respective spindle 37 to stop and reverse the spindle to enable pickup of the broken thread end by the extractor mouth or nozzle 85 of a suction tube 84 telescopic within a tube 86 connected to a suction pump 9.

A pair of upright posts 29 on the carriage 5 carry a fixed top plate 30 and slidably support bushings or sleeves 44 which carry a vertically reciprocable frame or support member 45. The nozzle 85 is movably carried by a lever 87 mounted on the reciprocal frame 45 and actuated by a cam 89. The broken thread is extracted and tensioned by the suction tube 84, whereupon the traveller 55 is centrally positioned on the ring 50 by hunting means 48 carried by a rod 47 slidable on the frame 45 and actuated by a lever 56 pivoted on frame 45 and operated by a cam 58.

The tensioned thread is threaded through the traveller 55 by fingers 64, 65 actuated respectively by connecting rods 71, 72 and levers 69, 70 pivoted on frame 45 and moved by cam means 66. The tensioned thread 109 is engaged by the end 113 of a lever 26, FIGS. 6-8, and a lever 108, FIGS. 6-8 and 17, to thread it through the thread guide 110 and to feed the free end of the thread to the drafting rolls to be joined with the roving at said rolls. The thread joining lever 26 is pivotally mounted on the top plate 30 and is actuated by a lever 26a carrying a cam follower 27 engaging a cam 25. All of the aforementioned cams are keyed to a vertical shaft 24 driven by a motor 8, the cams on the frame 45 being slidable on said shaft.

According to the present invention, the suction tube 84 (FIGS. 1-8) can oscillate or rock in a support member 83a mounted on a bracket 83]) carried by the vertically reciprocal plate 45. In the particular example shown, the tube 84 is curved or bent twice, as shown, substanti l y t ight-ang e from a downwardly directed suction mouthpiece 85, which is followed by a short straight portion 84b that extends away from the front of the continuous spinning machine. The short horizontal portion 84b is followed by the first bend, the tube continuing upwardly as a second long rising portion 84c which extends to the second bend normally disposed above the two drafting rolls 114, 115, FIG. 3. After the second bend, the tube continues as a short horizontal portion 84d which is disposed vertically above the portion 84b and mouthpiece 85. The tube 84, after a third right-angled bend, has a short portion 842 in a horizontal plane and is connected to the pivoted support member 83a.

The three tube portions 841;, 84c, 84d, are provided along the whole length of the side near the continuous spinning machine, with a narrow slot 84a wide enough to allow the yarn to pass through. The lateral slot 84a continues along the underside of the tube portion 84e to the pivotal support 83a where the slot ceases and the tube descends towards the fan 9. This final descending portion of the tube is engaged telescopically with a stationary vertical tube 86 extending to the fan. Instead of the telescopic feature, a bellows tube can be provided to follow the vertical movements of the platform 45 and support member 83a. The tube 84 and its mouthpiece are articulated relative to the member 83a by the lever 87 as previously described in the prior patenti.e., a cam 89, lever 87.

As already stated, the tube 84 with the two bends described and shown is of C-shape and resembles a curve or bow which is open towards the continuous spinning machine and which is provided with the narrow slot 84a for lateral emergence of the sucked in thread. However, the shape of this open curve shown by way of example need not necessarily be such and can have other shapes provided that the shape is open in the same direction and is formed with the slot for lateral emergence of the thread. The shape of the curve can be, for instance, a semicircle or semiellipse or a polygon formed by a suction tube devoid of at least one side, so that the two ends, which are generally in vertically aligned spaced relationship to one another, are the two places between which the thread extends freely and at a generally vertical distance. The term curve of the tube as used in the description and claims hereof covers all the various shapes which meet the required purpose.

In operation, the mouthpiece 85 moves towards the top part of the bobbin 109' and sucks in the free end of the broken thread. Additional thread is withdrawn from the bobbin as its free end travels the full length inside the tube 84 until reaching the support member 83a, after which the tube 84 is devoid of a slot 84a. As the broken thread end continues inside the imperforate portion of the tube 84, the suction force applied to the withdrawn thread increases considerably, so tensioning the thread extending around the curve of the tube and thus increasing its tendency to assume a linear disposition that it emerges laterally through the slot 84a, is cammed around the lever 26 and end 113 by the configuration of the rear portion of the lever and end 113, and a vertically disposed, tensioned portion of the free thread is stretched outside the tube in the open air for engagement by member 108 and the lever end 113.

The various phases of operation are shown in greater detail in FIGS. 3-8. FIG. 3 shows the normal spinning procedure. The roving issues from between drafting rolls 114, 115 and is converted by twisting into thread 109 which passes through the guide 110 to be wound on the bobbin 109. The portion of the thread between rolls 114, and bobbin 109 is where most breaks occur, and FIG. 4 shows the same elements as in FIG. 3 but without any thread issuing from the drafting rolls 114, 115, the detector 121 having dropped and the mouthpiece 85 of the suction tube 84 having swung to a position near the top layers of thread wound on the bobbin 109 to extract the broken end of the thread 109 therefrom.

FIG. 5 shows that a portion of tensioned thread has been established in the open air, spanning the curve of the tube, the tube and mouthpiece having moved away from the bobbin. The thread has now been rethreaded in the traveller by the fingers 64, 65, and the arm 26 is about to start to swing to the left, FIG. 6, to engage the thread with the pigtail guide 110, and in FIG. 7 the arm 26 has swung to the right and is taking the thread to a position in which the arm 108 can place the thread in the guide 110. In FIG. 8, the arm again has swung to the left after the thread has been threaded, and is taken to the drafting rolls to finish mending the break by connecting the thread to the emerging roving in order that winding of the thread on bobbin 109" may be resumed. The twist of the thread entangles the roving which immediately starts to twist as a continuous thread.

When the thread 109 emerges from the tube 84 through the slot 84a, it may emarge completely from the lower end of the tube and be stretched directly from the traveller 55 to the upper end of the tube. Alternatively, the thread may be temporarily held in the lower end of the tube adjacent the mouth 85, as shown in FIG. 5. The thread can be so held by a slight snubbing action due to the canting or inclination of the thread as the upper end of the stressed portion moves laterally to the pivotal support 83a, as shown in FIG. 9. operationally, it is immaterial whether the thread is caught adjacent the mouth or not because in either event the stressed thread is disposed in line with the end 113 and as soon as the end 113 engages the thread the latter is moved from the mouth 85, as shown in FIG. 6.

As a variant for cases where the special nature of the thread is such that it is not advisable for it to travel the whole distance inside the tube, for example with very fragile thread, once it has been sucked by the mouthpiece 85, that is, once it has disengaged from the top layer of the bobbin 109, the thread may be mechanically lifted from the mouthpiece to establish a stressed length for engagement by the end 113. Such mechanical lifting of the thread, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, may comprise grippers 160 mounted on an endless belt or chain 161 running around pulleys 162, one of which is driven by the main drive mechanism of the device. Obviously, this system may be employed with an unslotted tube as well as the slotted tube 84. As shown in FIG. 10, the grippers 160 normally are disposed below the level of the mouth 85 to underlie the extracted broken end portion of the thread 109. The grippers grip such thread and, as they are elevated, withdraw additional thread 109 from bobbin 109 and lift it to a point above the end 113.

The gripper 160, referring to FIG. 11, includes a fixed jaw 160 secured to the conveyor chain or belt 161 and extending perpendicular therfrom, and a movable jaw 160 pivotally secured to chain 161 for movement to an open position, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 11, in which it is spaced from fixed jaw 160'. Movable jaw 160 normally is spring biased closed, as shown in full lines in FIG. 11, but is swung to its open position by engagement of a cam lever 190 secured to it when the outer end of such cam lever passes over cam surface 192 or 194. Adjacent cam surface 192, therefore, gripper 160 opens to receive the thread extending from and adjacent traveller 55, and then closes to clamp the thread as it is carried upwardly. Adjacent cam surface 194, gripper 160 again opens to allow member 113 to assume control of the thread. Cam surfaces 192, 194 may be carried by any suitable stationary part of the apparatus, such as that which mounts the shafts of the pulleys about which chain or belt 161 passes.

The frame 45 moves up and down with the ring rail 78, the motor 152 and its associated clutch 151 effecting drive to the screw 153 which, operating in the nut 154, serves to impart the requisite vertical motion to the frame 45. FIG. 12 illustrates diagrammatically the components of the system. As indicated, the motor 152 and the clutch 151 are actuated by control circuit C which receives sig nals from the switch S and also from the switch mechanism 206 which is operated by the cam 58 subsequent to detection of a broken thread.

The follower or actuator is frame 45 and registers over the ring rail 78, as shown. At the ends of the stroke of the ring rail 78, relative motion between the ring rail 78 and the frame 45 occurs, which causes the follower 150 to slide within the frame 45 and actuate one or the other of the switches 150 and 150" which, as will be seen hereinafter, operates the control circuit so as to cause the frame to reverse its motion also and follow the movement of the ring rail 78.

The circuits for effecting the foregoing operations are shown in FIG. 13 wherein the switch 150', when closed, serves to energize the control relay 200 and the latching relay 202U in parallel across a suitable source of voltage, whereas the switch 150", when closed, serves to connect the control relay 204, and in parallel therewith, the other actuator 202D of the latching relay across the voltage source. The clutch 151 has three parallel branches leading thereto for energizing the clutch to effect the drive between motor 152 and the screw 153. When deenergized, the clutch is disengaged and no motion is imparted to the frame 45.

One branch to the clutch contains the normally open switch 200' and, in series therewith, a normally closed switch 208". Another branch contains the latching relay contact switch 202" and, in series therewith the normally open control relay switch 208. As will be appreciated, both of the switches 208' and 208" are operated by means of the control relay 208 which will be energized upon closing the switch 206, the purpose of which will be presently apparent. The third branch to the clutch 151 contains the single normally open switch 204' which is actuated by the control relay 204, previously mentioned.

The latching relay has two switch contacts 202' and 202" which are effective to impart relatively opposite rotation to the motor 152. The latching relay assembly may take any convenient form of the type wherein, when the upper portion 202U is energized by closing the switch 150', the switch 202' will be closed and will remain closed until the lower portion 202D is actuated by closing the switch 150", whereupon the switch 202" is actuated to closed position. This latter position of the switch will prevail until such time as the upper portion 202U of the latching relay is again energized by closing the switch slidably carried by the Exclusive of the switch 206, the control relay 208 and the contacts 208' and 208", the purpose of the control circuit shown in FIG. 13 is to cause the frame 45 to be slaved to the motion of the ring rail 78, at least for the majority of the stroke of the ring rail 78. To appreciate this slaving action according to the specific embodiment shown, consider the motion of the ring rail 78 as it reaches the upper end of is stroke and while the frame 45 is still ascending. Under such circumstances, it will be appreciated that the actuator 150' will drop under the action of a suitable spring mechanism or by its own weight, first to open the switch 150' and terminate the upward movement of the frame 45 and then to close the switch contact 150" which energizes the lower portion 202D of the latching relay, shown in FIG. 13, serving to make the switch contacts 202" to impart that rotation to the motor 152 which will drive the frame 45 downwardly to follow the ring rail 78. At the same time, the control relay 204 is actuated and the contacts 204' thereof will close to reenergize the clutch so that drive is imparted to the screw 153 whereby the frame 45 will be coupled to the motor 152 to move downwardly to follow the ring rail 78.

It will be appreciated that the drive speed of the motor 152 is such as to drive the frame 45 faster than the movement of the ring rail 78 so that the frame will catch up with the ring rail ultimately to break the switch 150",

thereby to deenergize the control relay 204 and break the clutch energizing circuit at which time the screw 153 will cease rotation until the switch 150" is again closed to reenergize the clutch 151. This make and break action of the switch 150 will occur constantly and intermittently throughout the downward movement of the frame 45, whereby the motion of the frame 45 is slaved to the motion of the ring rail 78.

When the ring rail 78 reaches the bottom end of its stroke, its movement will reverse while the frame 45 still descends, first to open the switch 150" and terminate downward motion of the frame 45, and ultimately to close the contact 150' energizing the upper portion 202U of the latching relay to reverse the electrical connection to the motor 152 and reverse its operation, and, at the same time, to energize the control relay 200 and actuate the clutch 151 to impart ascending motion to the frame 45. As before, the overspeed drive to the frame 45 will cause the frame to catch up with the ascending ring rail 78 ultimately to overrun the same and break the contact 150', which momentarily deenergizes the clutch 151 while the motor 152 continues to rotate in the upward drive direction until the actuator 150 again closes the switch 150', thereby slaving the vertical motion of the frame 45 to the vertical motion of the ring rail 78.

The switch 206 is utilized for the purpose of allowing the mouth 85 of the extractor means or suction tube to be projected within the confines of the ring 50 when a broken yarn is detected. As will be recalled, the first operation after detection is to move the member 85 from its normally retracted position to a position shifted laterally toward the thread package. Subsequent to this motion of the member 85, the cam 58 will close the switch 206 to energize the control relay 208 which makes the switch 208 and breaks the switch 208".

Assuming the ring rail 78 and frame 45 to be ascending, and remembering that under these conditions the switch 202' controls the clutch 151 in accord with the condition of the switch 150', it will be appreciated that the opening action of the switch 208" will terminate clutch control by the switch 200, since opening of the switch 208" assures deenergization of the clutch 151 no matter what the condition of the switch 150'. Thus, the frame 45 will be stationary so long as the switch 206 remains closed, and the action of the cam 58 is such as to allow the frame 45 to remain stationary sufficiently long for the mouth 85 to enter the ring 50, as is shown sequentially in FIGS. 14a and b, whereafter the switch 206 is opened so that the switch 150, since it will be closed at this time, will cause the frame 45 to resume its ascent at the aforementioned rate of speed greater than the speed of the ring rail 78, whereby the frame and the mouth 85 soon move upwardly with respect to the ring 50 and out of the confines thereof. In the meantime, however, the mouth '85 has picked up the broken end of the yarn as has been previously described.

During descending motion of the ring rail 78 and frame 45, as soon as a broken yarn is detected the mouth 85 will be swung towards the thread package, as depicted in FIG. 15a, and then the switch 206 will be actuated to close the switch 208 and to open switch 208". Normally the switch '150" controls the actuation of the clutch 151, during descending but when switch 206 is closed, actuation of the clutch 151 is overridden by the contacts 202" .and the contact 208 so that regardless of the condition of the switch 150" and consequently of the control relay 204 and its switch 204' normally controlling the clutch 151, the clutch remains in energized condition.

As previously explained, the motor 152 is capable of driving the frame 45 faster than the movement of the ring rail and the above described action therefor allows the overridden clutch control to permit the mouth 85 to be projected within the confines of the ring 50 with which it is aligned, as is shown in FIG. 15b. As soon as this action has been achieved and the yarn end is picked up,

the switch 206 is opened whereby the condition of the switch will resume control over the clutch 151 and allow same to be deenergized until the ring rail has descended to a position closing the switch 150", whereafter the slaving action continues in the normal fashion. The switch 206 may be in the form of a time-delay action switch which, when once energized, remains in closed condition for a predetermined length of time whereafter the switch reopens.

It will be appreciated that, as is conventional in the art, the ring rail is not necessarily provided with a fixed stroke. That is to say, during the initial winding on the spindle, the ring rail may have a relatively long stroke which progressively is shortened to effectively taper the ends or chase of the thread package. At the lower end of the stroke during the initial stages of winding, the ring rail will be disposed in a position, such as is illustrated in FIG. 16, whereat, if the detector mechanism were to detect a broken yarn, the wheel 35 would interfere or foul the ring rail assembly. For this reason, the switch arm 174 is provided, which, being pivoted at 180, as shown in FIG. 16, is adapted at its upper end 179a to be engaged by the skirt 78a of the ring rail 78 allowing the switch 182 to assume an open position which disables the detector circuit or otherwise prevents actuation of the wheel 35.

The spring 181 urges the arm 179 upwardly when the ring rail ascends ultimately to close the switch 182 when the ring rail has cleared the wheel 35, thus allowing the detecting circuitry to be completed and the cycle of operation to occur as previously described. In any event, the switch 182 will function to disable the detector circuit only during the terminal downward portion of the initial strokes of the rail 78, and -will remain in its closed position at all other times, especially during the shorter and uniform strokes of the ring rail 78 which occur after the initial winding action as described hereinabove.

The mechnism for effecting the movement of the lever 108 for threading the thread through the pigtail guide 110 is shown in FIG. 17. The vertically reciprocable frame or platform 45, operated as hereinbefore described, moves relative to the top stationary platform 30. A toothed rack 168 is fixedly and vertically mounted on the frame 45 and, of course, follows the movements thereof. Engaging with the rack 168 is a gear wheel 167 mounted on a horizontal shaft 167' journaled in a bracket 30 depending from the platform 30. The shaft 167 has at its other end an eccentric cam 166 which rotates according to the direction of movement of the rack 168.

A roller rests on the top edge of the cam 166, and is mounted on a shaft projecting from a frame 112 which journals a shaft 178 that supports the arm 108. When the cam 166 performs a slight circular reciprocating motion, the frame 112 is raised and lowered by the roller 165 to come to the correct height relative to guide 110s position. Thus, the frame -112 is movable relative to both the frame 45 and the platform 30. The cam 166 is shaped so as to cause movement of frame 112 in proportion to movement of ring rail 78 and platform 45, the proportional movement being approximately the same as that between guide 110 and the ring rail, so as to maintain frame 112 at approximately the same elevation relative to guide 110 during the latters reciprocating movement. Of course, the cam 166 can be replaced by a pinion, and the roller 165 can be replaced by a toothed rack rigidly secured to a frame 112.

The shaft 178 has at its inner end a bevel gear 178 which meshes with a bevel gear 177 fixed on the lower end of a vertical shaft 176. This latter shaft is driven by the vertical main shaft 24 which drives a cam 169 that, in turn, actuates a lever 174 and a rod 175 pivotally connected thereto. This motion is transmitted to the vertical shaft 176 which extends freely through the stationary platform 30, and is slidably keyed in a base 175 fixed to the rod 175. The shaft 178 at its outer end is connected to the arm 108 by a hinge 178", the two portions of which are connected by a spring 178a to bias the arm into engagement with a face cam 1'12 carried by the frame 112 in surrounding relation to the shaft 178. Thus, rotation of the shaft 178 produces at the correct time the rapid oscillatory movement of the arm 108 to cause it to place the thread in the guide 110.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. In an automatic thread joiner for a spinning machine of the ring traveler type including a thread package supporting driven spindle for which a thread is issued from thread delivery means and fed through a traveler on a ring surrounding the spindle to wind it on the package by rotation of the spindle, said thread joiner including:

extractor means for extracting from the thread package the end portion of a broken thread and for withdrawing additional thread from the package to a remote region thereabove to establish a stressed free length of thread between said region and the package, and engaging means operative to engage the stressed free length of thread and place such thread in engagement with the thread issued from the delivery means, the improvement in said extractor means comprising a suction mouth for picking up the broken thread end portion, and means extending upwardly from a position adjacent said suction mouth to a position thereabove for withdrawing the additional thread and establishing the stressed free length thereof.

2. In an automatic thread joiner according to claim 1, wherein said extractor means comprises a suction tube having an inner end portion connected to a suction source, an outer end portion presenting said mouth, and a curved connecting portion extending upwardly from said outer end portion to said inner end portion, said suction tube withdrawing the thread therethrough and having a continuous slot extending longitudinally of its said outer end and connecting portions for permitting withdrawn thread to pass therefrom and establish the stressed free length of thread.

3. In a thread joiner according to claim 2, including pivot means associated with said suction tube to enable generally lateral movement of said outer end portion thereof toward and from the thread package.

4. In a thread joiner according to claim 2, wherein said suction tube and said slot therein extend upwardly to an elevation above that at which said engaging means is adapted to engage the stressed free length of thread.

5. In a thread joiner according to claim 1, the last mentioned means including a thread gripper mechanism movable between said position adjacent said suction mouth and said position thereabove to establish the stressed length of thread.

6. In a thread joiner according to claim 5, including an endless carrier entrained around and movable about vertically spaced supports, said gripper mechanism being mounted on said carrier.

7. In an automatic thread joiner for a spinning machine of the ring traveler type including a thread package supporting driven spindle for which a thread is issued from thread delivery means and fed through a traveler on a ring surrounding the spindle to wind it on the package by rotation of the spindle.

said thread joiner including extractor means for extracting the end portion of a broken thread from the thread package and establishing a stressed length of thread between said end portion and the package, and engaging means operative to engage the stressed length of thread and place such thread in engagement with the thread delivery means, the improvement in said extractor means comprising a suction tube having an inlet mouth,

a curved portion extending generally upwardly from said mouth and a narrow slot in the inner side wall thereof through said mouth to the upper end of said curved portion to establish a free tensioned length of thread extending downwardly from the upper end of said curved portion for engagement by said engaging means.

8. In a thread joiner according to claim 7, means pivotally supporting said suction tube adjacent its upper end to enable movement of said mouth toward and from said thread package. 9. In a thread joiner according to claim 8, said engaging means at times being disposed generally within the curve of said curved tube portion. 10. In a thread joiner according to claim 9, said engaging means comprising a lever pivotally mounted at its one end and having thread engaging means at its other end and pivotally movable to a thread-engaging position generally within the curve of said curved tube portion. 11. In an automatic thread joiner for a spinning machine of the ring traveler type including a thread package supporting driven spindle for which a thread is issued from thread delivery means and fed through a traveler on a ring surrounding the spindle to wind it on the package by rotation of the spindle, said thread joiner including extractor means for extracting the end portion of a broken thread from the thread package and establishing a stressed length of thread between said end portion and the package, and engaging means operative to engage the stressed length of thread and place such thread in engagement with the thread delivery means the improvement in said extractor means comprising a suction tube having an inlet mouth, and second engaging means movable generally vertically between said tube mouth and the package from a position below said tube mouth to a position above said first mentioned engaging means to establish the free tensioned length of thread for engagement by said first mentioned engaging means. 12. In a thread joiner according to claim 11, said second engaging means comprising a thread gripper mechanism carried by an endless carrier entrained around vertically spaced supports. 13. In an automatic thread joiner for a spinning machine of the ring traveler type including a thread package supporting driven spindle for which a thread is issued from thread delivery means and fed through a traveler on a ring carried by a vertically reciprocal ring rail and surrounding the spindle to wind it on the package by rotation of the spindle, said thread joiner including extractor means for extracting the end of a broken thread from the thread package, and a vertically movable frame supporting said extractor means, the improvement comprising servo means for vertically moving said frame in accordance with the elevation of said ring rail, said servo means including a motor drivably connected to said frame, and control switch means responsive to the reciprocation of said ring rail.

14. In a thread joiner according to claim 13, wherein said servo means comprises a vertically disposed worm threaded through a nut fixed to said frame,

a clutch interconnecting said motor and said worm, and

an electric switch carried by said frame for engagement with said ring rail and operatively connected with said clutch.

15. In an automatic thread joiner for a spinning machine of the ring traveler type including a thread package supporting driven spindle for which a thread is issued from thread delivery means and fed through a thread guide and through a traveler on a ring carried by a vertically reciprocable ring rail and surrounding the spindle to wind it on the package by rotation of the spindle, the thread guide being vertically reciprocable in proportion to the vertical reciprocation of the ring rail,

said thread joiner including first and second vertically movable frames, and

means for moving said first frame in accordance with the elevation of said ring rail,

the improvement comprising means carried by said second frame for threading said thread guide, and

means interconnecting said frames for proportionally moving said second frame in response to movement of said first frame, the proportional movement between said frames being approximately the same as between the ring rail and the thread guide, for thereby moving said second frame and said threading means generally in accordance with the elevation of said thread guide.

16. In a thread joiner as in claim 15, wherein said interconnecting means includes a rotatable cam, and wherein said threading means includes a rotatable shaft carried by said second frame, an arm pivotally connected to an end of said shaft for movement therewith and relative thereto, and a face cam carried by said second frame in engagement with said arm for controlling the path of movement of said arm during rotative movement of said shaft.

17. In an automatic thread joiner for a spinning machine of the ring traveler type including a thread package supporting driven spindle for which a thread is issued from thread delivery means and fed through a traveler on a ring carried by a vertically reciprocable ring rail and surrounding the spindle to wind it on the package by rotation of the spindle,

said thread joiner including a carriage positionable in front of the spindle,

brake means carried by and movable inwardly from said carriage, upon initiation of a thread joining operation, into engagement with a portion of the spindle below the package thereon for interrupting the normal rotation of the spindle,

the improvement comprising movable detector means carried by said carriage and extending into the path of reciprocating movement of the ring rail for detecting obstruction of the path of movement of said brake means by the ring rail, and switch means responsive to said detector means for disabling said brake means while said obstruction is present.

18. In an automatic thread joiner for a spinning machine of the ring traveler type including a plurality of aligned thread package supporting driven spindles for each of which a thread is issued by front drafting rolls and fed through a thread guide and thence through a traveler on a ring surrounding the spindle to wind it on the package by rotation of the spindle, the ring being carried by a vertically reciprocating ring rail and the thread guide reciprocating vertically in proportion to the vertical reciprocation of the ring rail,

said thread joiner comprising:

a carriage movable longitudinally of the machine over a path in front of the spindles,

detector means for arresting movement of said carriage over said path in alignment with a spindle at which a thread is broken,

brake means carried by and movable inwardly from said carriage, upon stopping of said carriage, into engagement with a portion of the respective spindle below the package thereon for interrupting the normal rotation of the spindle, and initiating a thread joining operation,

movable detector means carried by said carriage and extending into the path of reciprocatory movement of the ring rail for detecting possible obstruction by the ring rail to movement of said brake means,

first and second vertically spaced and movable frames carried by said carriage,

a third frame carried by said carriage a fixed distance above said movable frames,

servo means for moving said first frame generally in accordance with the reciprocating movement of the ring rail,

extractor means carried by and movable with said first frame for extracting the end of a broken thread from the thread package and for establishing a stressed length of thread extending upwardly therefrom generally toward the thread guide and the drafting rolls,

means carried by and movable with said first frame and engageable with the stressed length of thread for passing the same through the traveler,

means for moving said second frame generally in accordance with the reciprocatory movement of the thread guide,

means carried by and movable with said second frame for threading the stressed length of thread through the thread guide,

and engaging means carried by said third frame operative to engage the stressed length of thread and place the same in engagement with that issuing from the drafting rolls.

19. An automatic thread joiner according to claim 18, wherein said servo means includes a clutch and moves said first frame while said clutch is engaged at a rate faster than the rate of movement of said ring rail, and clutch control means for intermittently engaging and disengaging said clutch to move said first frame generally in accordance with the movement of the ring rail.

20. An automatic thread joiner according to claim 19, and furhter including second clutch control means effective when actuated to override said first-mentioned clutch control means and to thereby temporarily cause relative movement between said first frame and the ring rail.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,449,742 9/1948 Foster et al. 57-53 3,066,471 1:2/1962 Scragg 57-34.5 3,128,590 4/1964 Escursell-Prat 5734.5 3,203,634 8/1965 Fiirst 57--34.5 XR

FOREIGN PATENTS 702,010 1/ 1954 Great Britain.

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primal Examiner. WERNER H. SCHROEDER, Assistant Examiner. 

